Cleopatra: a Life by Stacy Schiff

I'm the first to admit that I usually don't like nonfiction, I've surprised myself. I've been completely fascinated by Cleopatra: a Life by Stacy Schiff, which I just listened to on audiobook. You can order the print version here, and the book on CD here (for those tech-savvy readers with e-readers that can play e-audio, you can find that here). This meticulously researched nonfiction title is the story of Cleopatra's life stripped of sensationalism and taken down to the bare bones.

You won't find any Shakespearean embellishment or Elizabeth Taylor reenactment here - and it shows. Schiff's portrayal of the Egyptian queen is not that of a witch preying upon men, but a savvy, intelligent woman who used everything at her disposal (including sex) to consolidate power and remain queen of Egypt. The audio version is read by Robin Miles, who reads with authority and passion. Never monotone or boring, her voice is deep, commanding, and lends emotional weight to the text. While we never get much of Cleopatra's voice, Schiff and Miles let us into her world with copious (sometimes overwhelming) background information to set the scenes. For anyone interested in history or strong women, this book by a Pulitzer Prize winning author will capture your imagination.

Shannon Wood, Adult Services Librarian